Side assembly for produce machine



Aug. 9, 1966 w. H. TEW 3,

SIDE ASSEMBLY FOR PRODUCE MACHINE Filed May 13, 1964 37 I3 n as x J/J 4 l /77\ I] -34 "-36 39- v Q; x s ""I as 35 3:

INVENTQR. F I G. 3 WILLIAM H. TEW

BYC:

HIS ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent "ice 3,265,194 dlDlE AddElt KBLY FOR PRGDUQE MACHHNE William H. 'liew, 29 Urchard Lane, lFairport, NDY. Filed May 13, 11964, Ser. No. 367.0% 3 Claims. (Cl. 198-404) This invention relates to a side assembly for a produce machine, and particularly to an improved side assembly construction in which a side member is easily removable or replaceable for changing the dimensions thereof.

Produce handling machines generally are well-known, and include equipment for conveying, sorting, inspecting, treating, cleaning, Weighing and bagging or packaging produce. In such equipment, and in other produce machines and appurtenances including various chutes, ramps, transporters, baggers, etc., produce is moved along a supporting holder or surface. Such supporting surfaces can be formed of metal or other smooth material, or moving belts, rollers, holders and the like. It is customary in Such produce machines to arrange a side memher or rail, preferably in a generally upright position, adjacent the surface over which the produce moves to confine the produce within the desired boundaries. Applicants invention relates to an improved assembly for such side members allowing easier versatility in produce machines.

In previous produce machines, side members and side assemblies have been composed of wooden or channelbent, sheet metal side rails bolted to a channel iron frame member running longitudinally along the edge of the surface over which produce moves. To change the dimensions of such side rails for purposes such as providing cut out portions to accommodate appurtenant apparatus, it has been necessary to saw through the side rail while it was bolted in place, or remove several bolts, take the side rail to a working place, saw through the wood or the diflicult-to-cut, channel-bent metal material, and then replace the side rail on the machine by resecuring the bolts. Another disadvantage of such side members was that they were relatively thick, heavy, and expensive, and their original assembly required considerable time and expense necessarily involved in boring, fitting, and bolting the side rails in place.

One of the objects of the invention is to adapt a produce machine for conversion economically from the handling of one type of produce to another.

Another object of the invention is to allow easy changing of the dimensions of a produce handling machine.

Another object of the invention is to adapt a produce machine for quick and easy removal or replacement of its side member to allow convenient changing of the dimensions thereof.

Another object of the invention is to adapt a produce machine for easy changing of the position or number of produce diversion stations associated therewith.

Another object of the invention is to equip a produce machine with a thin side assembly to shorten the travel of produce laterally from the machine to appurtenant equipment.

Another object of the invention is to construct a more versatile and more economically modifiable produce n1achine.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features Patented August 9, 1966 being pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a partially schematic top plan view of a produce machine embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a partially sectioned side elevation along the line 22 of FIG. 1 of the produce machine embodying the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section along the line 33 of FIG. 2 of the produce machine according to the inventron.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention, herein disclosed by way of illustration comprises generally an improved assembly for supporting a side member in a slot adjacent a surface along which produce is moved so that the side member can be quickly and easily re moved from its position for replacement by a different side member or for changing the dimensions of the removed side member to accommodate different types of produce or different produce handling operations such as modification in the spacing or number of stations for diverting produce from the surface.

The drawings illustrate a typical produce machine having the improved side assembly of the invention, but many produce machines other than the illustrated one can also embody the improved side assembly. Before the side assembly itself is described, a brief description of the illutrated produce machine is in order.

FIG. 1 shows a typical produce machine adapted for bagging or packaging produce. Produce enters the machine at entering ramp 10 from which it moves onto moving belt surface H which moves continuously in the direction of the arrow. At the end of belt 11, deflecting surface 12 forces the produce onto a second moving belt surface 13 traveling continuously in an opposite direction as indicated by the arrow, whereby the produce reverses its direction of travel. At the end of belt 13 another diverting surface 14 forces produce back onto belt 11 so that produce can move back and forth on the two return flow belts in a circulatory motion.

For illustration, a plurality of baggers or packaging stations 15-18 are arranged adjacent a longitudinal edge of belt 13. As is well known, such baggers can be arranged as illustrated or obliquely to belt 13, and they normally have their own moving belt system for conveying or transporting produce away from belt 13. Diversion members ll922 are respectively associated with stations 15-13 and arranged to extend from the downbelt edge of each bagging station obliquely across belt 13. Diversion members l922 are preferably bars or rods elevated above the surface of belt 13 by an amount determined by the type of produce being handled. Diversion bar 19 is arranged for diverting some produce into bagging station 15. Other produce passes over bar 19 for diversion by bar 20 into bagging station 16 and so forth through stations 1'7 and 18. Produce passing over diversion bar 22 is diverted by surface 14- onto belt 111 for recirculating past the bagging stations.

The illustrated produce machine generally described above is provided with an improved side assembly according to the invention including side members or rails adjacent the moving belts to confine produce to movement on the belts.

For example, a side member 23 adjacent belt 11 extends from the side entering ramp 10 to the end of the machine, and a similar side member 24 extends from the opposite side of entering ramp to the opposite end of the machine. Adjacent belt 13 are similar side members 25-29 arranged to border all the longitudinal side edge of the machine except at the location of bagging stations 15-18. In FIG. 2 bagging stations 15-18 are shown in cross section, and side members -29 are shown extending above the surface of belt 13.

The improved side assembly and the arrangement of the side members can best be seen from the cross section view of FIG. 3 where side member 25 is taken as an example. A frame-strengthening member is formed from a longitudinal strip of material, preferably steel, a portion of which is folded upon itself at 32 to give rigidity to the supporting frame. One longitudinal edge portion 33 of the strip 30 is bent at right angles to the folded portion 32 and arranged for extending under the belt 13. The edge portion 33 of member 30 supports a bearing member 34, preferably formed of a strip of maple or other hard wood, but also formable of many other materials or formable as rollers, Wheels, etc., upon which belt 13 rides. A cross brace 35, preferably of angle iron, further strengthens the frame. Additional bearing strips such as strip 36 can be added for supporting belt 13. Frame member 31 is a compliment of member 30 and similarly formed for accommodating panel 24 and supporting belt 11 at the opposite longitudinal edge of the machine.

Bearing strip 34 is spaced from folded portion 32 so as to provide a slot 37 for receiving side member 25. A similar slot 38 is provided between frame member 31 and bearing member 39 for receiving side member 24 at the opposite edge of the machine. Side member 25 as well as other side members are preferably formed of strips of sheet material such as steel, and is assembled by merely being inserted in place in slot 37. Side member 25 rests on the bottom of slot 37 against edge portion 33 of member 30 and is supported in a generally upright position by the side walls of slot 37. In such position, side member 25 is adjacent belt 13 for confining produce to traveling on the surface of belt 13.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, openings or discontinuities in the side walls of the machine can be necessary as at entering ramp 10 and bagging stations 15-18 to allow produce to pass onto and off of the machine. Depending upon the installation and function of the machine, it is often desirable to vary the location or number of bagging stations or move entering ramp 10 or other structure communicating with the machine through the side members. It is also desirable to vary the height of the side members above the moving belts or other produce supporting surface according to the type of produce and operation involved. To facilitate such dimensional changes, side panels 23-29 are removable from their supporting slots as can best be seen in FIG. 3 where it is evident that side members 24 and 25 can be simply raised from their respective slots 38 and 37. Easy removal of side members allows them to be cut to desired dimensions at a convenient work place or replaced by other side members having preferred dimensions. Also, side members 25-29 can be formed from a single strip of material extending above the surface of belt 13 in the sections indicated at 25-29 and having cut out portions at bagging stations 15-18 to allow passage of produce across the side member or slot 37. Even as such a single strip, a side member is conveniently removable for replacement or for changing the cutouts or other dimensions thereof. Of course, apertures or holes can be cut in a side member to accommodate a bagger or other appurtenance rather than the open notches best shown in FIG. 2.

The frame-strengthening members 30 and 31, as shown in FIG. 3, replace longitudinal angle or channel iron pieces previously used in produce machines and to which side members were bolted. The previous construction left a relatively wide dead space between the belt 13 and baggers 15-18 across which produce had to be forced.

With a side member assembly according to this invention such dead space is reduced to the width of slot 37 as shown in FIG. 1. Such reduction of the width of the dead space across which produce must pass in leaving belt 13 allows smoother and more convenient produce handling. Baggers and other side appurtenances can be formed with a downward extending tongue of sheet material adapted to be releasably inserted into slot 37 for connecting such appurtenance to the produce machine. Such connection allows baggers and the like to be held closer to the belt 13 than in previous constructions and thereby further reduces the dead space between belt 13 and the exit means or moving belt system of the bagger.

Removal of side members by merely raising them from their supporting slots as can be seen from FIG. 3, allows easy cutting or interchanging of side members to accommodate various desired structures, produce diverting stations, etc. The speed and ease with which produce machines can be adapted for various functions in accordance with the invention makes such machines more serviceable and economic and valuable to their owners.

While the invention has been disclosed herein by reference to the details of a preferred embodiment, then, it is to be understood that such disclosure is intended in an illustrative, rather than a limiting sense, and it is contemplated that various modifications of the construction and arrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a conveyor comprising a frame having a pair of horizontally disposed and spaced longitudinal supports, horizontally disposed and longitudinally aligned belt bearing strips between said supports, two belt conveyors with the feed end of each conveyor being adjacent the delivery end of the other conveyor with the belts of said conveyors being supported adjacent each other by said bearing strips and by roller means adapted for moving said belts in opposite directions, said roller means being on horizontal axes of rotation and rotatably mounted on said supports, means for delivering produce to a first one of said conveyors, means at each end of said conveyors for deflecting produce from the delivery end of said first conveyor to the feed end of the second conveyor and for deflecting produce from the delivery end of said second conveyor to the feed end of said first conveyor, at least one diversion member extending transversely across the top of the belt of said second conveyor and having suflicient vertical extent above said top of said belt to divert at least some of the produce from said second conveyor, and side members confining produce to said conveyors, but providing an opening for passage from said belt of produce diverted by said diversion member, the improvement which comprises: at least one of said supports comprising a vertically disposed, longitudinally extending strip, the upper portion of which at about the top of the adjacent belt is folded back upon its inner side and then laterally to provide a longitudinal edge portion, the outer bearing strip adjacent said support is disposed on said edge portion with the outer side thereof spaced from said folded portion and providing thereby a longitudinally disposed slot between said bearing strip and said support, and said side members comprise a longitudinally disposed side panel removably seated in said longitudinally disposed slot and extending upwardly beyond said top of said belt.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the other of said longitudinal supports comprises a vertically disposed longitudinally extending strip, the upper portion of which at about the top of the other belt is folded back upon its inner side and then laterally to provide a longitudinal edge portion, the outer bearing strip adjacent said support is disposed on said edge portion with the outer side thereof spaced from said folded portion and providing thereby a longitudinally disposed slot between said bearing strip and said support, and said side members comprise a longitudinally disposed panel removably seated References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Volk 198-204 X Read 198204 Cox 198-30 Fleming 198-2()4 X Trautmann 19819 EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD A. SROKA, Examiner. 

1. IN A CONVEYOR COMPRISING A FRAME HAVING A PAIR OF HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED AND SPACED LONGITUDINAL SUPPORTS, HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED AND LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED BELT BEARING STRIPS BETWEN SAID SUPPORTS, TWO BELT CONVEYORS WITH THE FEED END OF EACH CONVEYOR BEING ADJACENT THE DELIVERY END OF THE OTHER CONVEYOR BEING ADJACENT THE DELIVERY BEING SUPPORTED ADJACENT EACH OTHER BY SAID BEARING STRIPS AND BY ROLLER MEANS ADAPTED FOR MOVING SAID BELTS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, SAD ROLLER MEANS BEING ON HORIZONTAL AXES OF ROTATION AND ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID CONMEANS FOR DELIVERING PRODUCE TO A FIRST ONE OF SAID CONVEYORS, MEANS AT EACH END OF SAID CONVEYORS FOR DEFLECTING PRODUCE FROM THE DELIVERY END OF SAID FIRST CONVEYOR TO THE FEED END OF THE SECOND CONVEYOR AND FOR DEFLECTING PRODUCE FROM THE DELIVERY END OF SAID SECOND CONVEYOR TO THE FEED END OF SAID FIRST CONVEYOR, AT LEAST ONE DIVERSION MEMBER EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY ARCOSS THE TOP OF THE BELT OF SAID SECOND CONVEYOR AND HAVING SUFFICIENT VERTICAL EXTENT ABOVE SAID TOP OF SAID BELT TO DIVERT AT LEAST SOME OF THE PRODUCE FROM SAID SECOND CONVEYOR, AND SIDE MEMBERS CONFINING PRODUCE TO SAID CONVEYORS, BUT PROVIDING AN OPENING FROM PASSAGE FROM SAID BELT OF PRODUCE DIVERTED BY SAID DIVERSION MEMBER, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES: AT LEAST ONE OF SAID SUPPORTS COMPRISING A VERTICALLY DISPOSED, LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING STRIP, THE UPPER PORTION OF WHICH AT ABOUT THE TOP OF THE ADJACENT BELT IS FOLDED BACK UPON ITS INNER SIDE AND THAN LATERALLY TO PROVIDE A LONGITUDINAL EDGE PORTION, THE OUTER BEARING STRIP ADJACENT SAID SUPPORT IS DISPOSED ON SAID EDGE PORTION WITH THE OUTER SIDE THEREOF SPACED FROM SAID FOLDED PORTION AND PROVIDING THEREBY A LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED SLOT BETWEEN SAID BEARING STRIP AND SAID SUPPORT, AND SAID SIDE MEMBERS COMPRISE A LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED SIDE PANEL REMOVABLY SEATED IN SAID LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED SLOT AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY BEYOND SAID TOP OF SAID BELT. 